Counter for cup machines



Aug. 22, 1933. R, BARES E1- AL 1,923,061

COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES v Filed Sept. 18, 1931 5 ShetS-Sheeb -1 E "ummu mnu ll//l/ l JQQaO/o .Barea @drew 'C Wood. QH:

Allg. 22, 1933. R. BARES ET AL 1,923,061

COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES Filed Sept. 18, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Il!IHHI 7 Aug. 22, 1933. R, BARES ET A| COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES Filedsept. 18, 1931' 5 sheets-sheet 3 Aug- 22, 1933- R. BARES ET AL 1,923,061

COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES Filed Sept. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 TTYQITIFE/Zzdrewf W006i.

@ @Wak- Aug. 22, 1933. R, BARES Er AL Y 1,923,061

COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES Filed Sept. 18, 1931 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 5g EEIJOPatented Aug. 22, 1933y UNITED STATES COUNTER FOR CUP MACHINES RudolphBares and Andrew C. Wood, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Vortex CupCompany, Chicago, Ill., a Corporation of Delaware Application September18, 1931 i Serial No. 563,502

28 Claims.

In container and cup making machines from which the finished cups aredischarged to be deposited in stacks or in nested relation, considerabledifculty has been encountered in the counting of the discharged cups dueto the lack of convenient automatic means whereby the stacked cups maybe divided into counted groups by suitable separators or indicators tofacilitate removal of predetermined or counted quantities of l0 the cupsfrom the stacking mechanism of the machine.

This invention relates to an improved cup counter and indicatordepositing attachment for use in connection with cup forming andstacking machines of the type illustrated and described in the *patentto Rudolph Holman, No. 1,594,617, dated August 3, 1926 for a Cup formingmachine and stacking attachment, which patent has been assigned to TheVortex Cup Company, of Chicago, Illinois, assignee of the presentapplication for patent. The present invention relates to an attachmentadapted to be conveniently connected with the machine and operablethereby to automatically count formed cups as they arc discharged andstacked in nested relation. The counting of the cups is accomplished bythe automatic insertion of projecting indicators or spacers atpredetermined intervals in the stack of cups.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cup forming and stackingmachine with an automatic counter and indicator spacer attachmentadapted to be connected for operation from the machine to automaticallycause indicators to he cut at predetermined times and delivered atspaced intervals in the stack of cups formed by the machine toautomatically mark ofi the cups in counted quantities.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a container formingand stacking machine with an attachment operable by the machine forautomatically cutting indicators from a strip of material and thenautomatically transferring the cut indicators into the stack of cupswhich are discharged from the machine to mark 01T the cups in countednumbers readily discernable by means of the projecting ends of theindicators. y

It is a further objectof this invention to provide a cup forming andstacking machine with an attachment operable from the machine andincluding a material device for advancing the material to the eld ofoperation of a cutting mechanism adapted to be actuated at apredetermined time to cut off a strip of the material to form anindicator adapted at a predetermined time to be delivered into theuppermost cup in the stacking mechanism of the machine to mark off acounted quantity of cups determinable by a control unit forming part ofthe counter attachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cup forming and stackingmachine with a counting attachment operable by the machine and adaptedto first cut an indicating spacer from a strip of material and thendeliver the indicat- -ing spacer into the last of a counted number ofcups formed by the machine prior to the discharge of the next series ofcups, thereby permitting the additional deposited cups to hold theindicating spacer in a gripped projecting position in the stack of cups.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a cup formingand stacking machinewith a counting attachment connected to be operatedin synchronized relation with the blank feed mechanism of the machine tocause the counter to govern the operation of a cutter and a transfermechanism to cut a spacer from a strip of material and thenautomatically deliver the spacer into a selected cup in the machinestacker attachment to mark off a counted number of the stacked cups.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improvedcounter for an article forming machine, said counter adapted for usewith an article producing machine to be operated from the machine insynchronized relation with the blank feeding mechanism of the machine tocause spacers to be cut from a strip of material fed to the counter andthen cause the cut spacers at 90 predetermined times to be delivered atspaced intervals between counted articles discharged from the machine toseparate the articles in groups each of which contains a predeterminedquantity of the articles, with the size of the 5 groups of articlesbeing determined by means of control means forming a part of the counterattachment.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of the discharge end of acontainer or cup forming and stacking machine having attached theretoand operable thereby an improved automatic counter and indicator spacerattachment embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine illustrated inFigure 1 and the counter and indicator spacer attachment of thisinvention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on lineIII-III of Figure 2 illustrating the pawl and ratchet control mechanismof the counter for governing the operation of the cutter and theindicating spacer delivering mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view similar to that illustrated inFigure 3 with the counter parts positioned to illustrate the operationof the counter.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken on line V-V ofFigure 1 illustrating the material cutting mechanism and the indicatingspacer delivering means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line VI-VI ofFigure 1.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating thegear mechanism at one end of the indicating spacer cutter and deliveryunit' illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal detail view of the cuttermechanism.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detail section taken online IX-IX of Figure 5 illustrating the details of the indicating spacerdelivery mechanism.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line X-X ofFigure 5 with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line XI-XI ofFigure 5 illustrating the cutter and the operating mechanism therefor.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detail view taken on lineXII- XII of Figure 5.

Figure 13 illustrates a stack of cups showing an indicating spacerseated in one of the cups with a portion of the spacer projecting toindicate a counted number of the stacked cups.

As shown on the drawings:

The improved automatic counter and indicating spacer attachment of thisinvention is adapted to be supported upon a cup forming and stackingmachine. In the present showing the improved attachment is mounted on amachine framework 1 having supported thereon a main driving shaft 2connected to be driven by any suitable source of power. Mounted on theframework l and connected to be driven from the driving shaft 2 is acontainer or cup forming mandrel 3 with which a presser roller 4 ispositioned to coact. To permit the forming mandrel to produce containersor cups, blanks are adapted to be fed to the mandrel by means of a blankfeeding mechanism forming part of the machine and briefly comprising areciprocating blank feed table 5 on which cup vblanks are delivered froma blank holding magazine which, in the present showing of the machine,has been omitted. Rotatably journalled in suitable bearings 6 supportedon the machine frame is a main operating gear 7 which receives a drivefrom a driving gear or pinion secured on the driving shaft 2. Pivotallyconnected eccentrically to the gear '7 is one end of a connecting rod 8(Figure 2) the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 9 fixed at oneend of a rod or shaft 10 supported in bearings provided on the machineframe.

An arm or lever 11 is pivoted on the shaft 10 and has the upper endthereof pivotally connected to operate the blank feed table 5. The tableactuating lever l1 has connected thereto one end of a coil spring 12,the other end of which is connected to an adjusting screw 13. Theadjusting screw 13 is mounted on an arm or plate 14 having a hub securedon the shaft i0. Integrally formed on the plate 14 is an extension orfinger 15 which is held in contact with a screw 16 which projectsthrough a boss 17 formed on the lever 11.

The machine is provided with a cup blank transfer mechanism adapted totransfer a blank from the supply magazine to the reciprocating blankfeed table 5. The cup blank transfer mechanism comprises a crank arm 18fixed on the shaft 10 to the outside of the plate 14. The upper end ofthe crank arm 18 is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod19. The other end of the connecting rod 19 is pivotally connected to theend of ashort arm 20 of a bell crank having a long arm 2l integral withsaid short arm. The upper end of the long bell crank arm 21 is connectedto operate a blank gripping mechanism (not shown) whereby atpredetermined times in the operation of the machine, a blank from theblank magazine is automatically delivered to the reciprocating table 5for delivery to the forming mandrel 3 to be formed into a container orcup.

The cup forming machine is provided with `a Asuitable dischargemechanism whereby cups when formed are adapted to be discharged from theforming mandrel and are deposited in a cup stacking mechanism embracinga curved guide chute 22 secured on the front of the machine framework l.A stop member or rest 23 is pivotally mounted on the lower end of thechute 22 and when in closed position is adapted to afford a rest for thecups deposited in the chute. The cups formed by the machine are thusadapted to be discharged one at a time from the machine and aredeposited in the chute in stacked or nested relation with respect to oneanother.

Having briefly described the container or cup making machine and themechanisms forming a part thereof whereby blanks are adapted to betransferred from a blank magazine onto a reciprocating blank feed tableto be delivered to the forming mandrel to be formed into cups which aredischarged into the guide chute forming a part of the stackingattachment, the improved automatic cup counter and indicating spacerattachment will now be described.

The improved cup counter comprises a mounting plate or bracket 24 whichis rigidly secured to the machine framework l. Rigidly secured on anextension of the framework 1 is bracket arm 25 in which a' stub shaft 26is supported. Rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 26 is a material feedreel 27 which carries a roll of paper or other suitable material out ofwhich the indicating spacers are adapted to be formed. The strip ofmaterial 28 is adapted to be conducted through a material feed andcutting unit between a primary feed reel 29 and a primary presser J roll30. The primary feed roller 29 is provided with a peripheral recess 31(Figure 6). The primary feed roller 29 is secured on the upper end of avertical driving shaft 32 which is rotatably supported in a bearingsleeve 33 forming part is open at the top as clearly illustrated inFigure 5. Secured to the rear side of the gear casing is an arm 36having pivotally supported thereon a pair of spaced arms 37 between theouter ends of which the main presser roller 30 is rotatably supported.For the purpose of resiliently holding the main presser roll 30 inrolling contact with the periphery of the main feed roll 29, a coiledcontrolled spring 38 is positioned on a supporting post 39 secured tothe rear side of the gear box or casing 35. The strip of material 28after passing between the primary feed reel 29 and the presser roller 30is advanced between a guide wall 40 and an inner guide strip or wall 41secured Within the gear box 35 as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. Theguide wall 40 is provided with a transverse opening 42 into which astationary cutter blade 43 projects. The stationary cutter blade 43 issecured on a mounting block 44 secured to substantially the middleportion of the outer surface of the rear Wall of the gear box 35, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Pivotally supported on the upper end ofthe stationary cutter blade 43 is a movable cutter bladel 45 which isresiliently held in open position by means of a control spring 46(Figure 11). The control spring 46 acts to hold the movable cutter blade45 in open position to afford a space between the cutting edges of thestationary blade 43 and the movable blade 45 to permit the material 28to be advanced between the guide Walls 40 and 41 to permit apredetermined length of the material to be cut off at a predeterminedtime to provide an indicating spacer 47.

The cutter actuating mechanism comprises a beam or arm 48 which ispivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a bracket 49 formed on oneside of the guide wall 41 as clearly illustrated in Figure 8. One end ofthe pivoted cutter control arm 48 is positioned to coact with themovable cutter blade 45 While the opposite end of said control arm ispositioned in the path of travel of a cutter control roller 50 rotatablysupported on the underside of the main feed reel 29. The inner guidewall 41 is provided with a transverse opening in which the movablecutter blade 45 is positioned to permit the same when actuated to coactwith the stationary cutter blade 43 to cut across the advanced strip ofmaterial 28 when the cutter control arm 48 is actuated by means oi. theroller 50. The material 28 before being cut passes throughv the guidespace provided between the guide walls 40 and 41 and passes between asecondary feed reel 51 having a recess 52 provided in the outerperipheral surface thereof. The reel 51 has a presser roller 53 coactingwith the peripheral surface thereof to assist in effecting a dischargeof an indicating spacer when cut into a finished cup as hereinafter morefully described. The presser roller 53 is rotatably supported on a pairof arms 54 which are pivotally supported on a bracket arm 55 secured onthe exterior of the rear wall of the gear box 35. The auxiliary presserroller 53 is resiliently held in contact with the outer peripheralsurface of the spacer discharge reel 51 by means of a control spring 56engaged around a mounting post 57 secured to the rear side of the gearbox 35. The auxiliary presser roller 53 having resilient rolling contactwith the outer periphery of the discharge reel 5l is prevented frommoving into the recess 52 by the reduced ends of the roller 53 whichhave rolling contact with the flanges of the indicating spacer dischargereel 51 as clearly illustrated in Figure 9 so that a space is providedbetween the reel 51 and the roller 53 during an interval of timesufficient to permit a portion of the strip of material 28 to be fedforwardly a sufficient distance beyond the cutters to permit anindicating spacer of sufficient length to be cut. In a similar manner,the material feed roller 30 is prevented from moving into the recess 31of the feed reel 29 due to the fact that the reduced ends of the roller30 have rolling contact with the flanges of the reel 29 therebypreventing the entrance of the roller 30 into the`recess'31 leaving aspacesuilicient to prevent the material 28 from being fed forwardlyduring the operation of the cutters to cut an indicating spacer from thestrip of material.

Positioned within one end of the gear box 35 and secured on the shank ofthe material feed reel 29, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10, is agear 58 which meshes with a smaller gear 59 which is rotatably supportedon a stub shaft Within the gear box 35. The gear 59 in turn drives anintermediate gear 60 which is in mesh with a gear 61. The gear 61 mesheswith a mutilated control gear 62 having a number of teeth thereof cutoff to provide a mutilated section 63 (Figure 7). Meshing with the uppermutilated section of the gear 52 is a gear 64 which is secured on thehub 65 of the discharge reel 51 as clearly illustrated in Figure 9.

The hub 65 of the discharge reel 51 is rotatably mounted on a stationaryshaft 66 which projects upwardly through one end of the gear box 35 withthe upper end of said shaft projecting through a closure plate 67 whichcloses the upper open end of the discharge reel 51.

Mounted within the discharge reel 51 is a coiled control spring 68 oneend of which is secured to the shaft 66 while the outer end thereof issecured to the inner periphery of the discharge reel 51, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 6.

The indicating spacer cutter mechanism and discharge mechanism areadapted to be operated from the vertical driving shaft 32 which in turnis adapted to be operated by a counter mechanism operable from the cupforming machine. Secured on the lower projecting end of the drivingshaft 32 is a beveled gear 69 which is in mesh with a driving beveledgear 70 which is supported on a stub shaft 7l rotatably supported in thebracket plate 24. Secured or formed on the back of the beveled gear 70is a secondary or auxiliary ratchet wheel 72 having a stop pawl 73coacting therewith to prevent reverse rotation of the auxiliary ratchetwheel. The stop pawl 73 is pivotally supported on the bracket plate 24.Also pivotally mounted on the bracket plate 24 is the lower end of a cambar 74 having a control cam 75 integrally formed on one side thereof.Supported on the mounting plate 24 is a control spring 76 one end ofwhich is engaged with the pawl 73 to resiliently hold the same incoacting relation with the auxiliary ratchet wheel 72 while the otherend of the control spring 76 engages the pawl bar 74. As clearlyillustrated in Figures 3 and 4, an operating pawl 77 is pivotallysupported on the upper end of the cam bar 74 and is engaged by a controlspring 78 lwhich acts to resiliently hold the pawl 77 in coactingengagement with the teeth of the auxiliary ratchet wheel 72.

The auxiliary counter ratchet wheel 72 is provided with ten teeth and isadapted to be rotated one-tenth of a revolution each time the cam barsupported on one side of a main counter ratchet wheel 80. The ratchetwheel is rotatably supported on a stub shaft 81 mounted on thesupporting plate 24. The main ratchet wheel 80 is provided in thepresent instance with twentyve teeth and coacting with the auxiliarycounter ratchet wheel 72 affords an arrangement whereby after 250 cupshave been formed by the machine and deposited in stacked relation in thestacking chute 22 an indicating spacer 47 is automatically cut from thestrip of material and deposited in the 250th cup. 4

A drive from the container or cup making and stacking machine is adaptedto be transmitted to the counter mechanism by means of a driving orconnecting rod or bar 82 one end of which is pivotally connected to theupper end of the crank arm 18 (Figure 1) forming part of the blanktransfer operating mechanism of the cup forming machine. It will benoted that each time the blank transfer mechanism of the machine isactuated to cause a blank to be delivered onto the reciprocating blankfeed table of the machine, the operating bar 82 is actuated to causeoperation of the counter mechanism. The operating bar 82 has the outerend thereof pivotally connected by means of a bolt 83 or other suitablemeans which is removably engaged in any one of a series of openings orapertures 84 provided in the lower end of an operating lever 85. Theoperating lever 85 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on'thestub shaft 81. Pivotally supported on the upper projecting end of theoperating lever 85 is a spring controlled main operating pawl 86 whichis positioned to coact with the teeth of the main counter ratchet wheel80.

For the purpose of manually stopping the counter mechanism, a manuallyoperable control arm or lever 87 is pivotally supported at one end onthe mounting plate 24. The hand lever 87 is positioned between the mainratchet wheel 80 and the operating lever 85 and normally is in areleased position as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 resting on a pin orstud 88 secured to the operating lever 85. The counter operating pawl 86has the outer end thereof notched as indicated by the reference numeral89 leaving a shoulder .which projects to one side of the ratchet wheel80 to permit the manually operable lever 87 when raised to engage theshoulder of the pawl 86 to swing the pawl upwardly out of coactingengagement with the main counter control ratchet wheel 80. As clearlyillustrated in Figure 3, the pivoted end of the manually controlledrelease lever 87 is in a position to be contacted by the upper end ofthe cam arm 74 to serve as a stop for limiting the swing of said cam armdue to the action ofthe control spring '76.

In the present form of cup forming machine, the blanks which are fed tothe forming mandrel 3 are formed into conical cups or containers 89(Figure 13) which are deposited in nested or stacked relation in thestacking chute 22 and are adapted to be separated at spaced intervals bymeans of the indicating spacers 47 which are automatically cut from astrip of material to form indicating spacers which in turn atpredetermined times are delivered into the last one of a counted numberof cups so that the stack of nested cups is divided into counted groupsby means of the indicating spacers 47.

The operation is as follows:

The automatic counter and indicating spacer attachment of this inventionis adapted for attachment to and operation by a cup forming machine orto any other type of machine wherein articles are discharged andpositioned adjacent lone another in a receiver from which the articlesare preferably removed in counted groups or quantities.

The receptacle or cup forming machine, with which the attachment is usedin the present showing, is adapted to be operated from any suitablesource of driving power. When the ma.- chine in is operation, blanksfrom a supply magazine are adapted to be automatically fed from themagazine into a position to permit a transfer mechanism forming part ofthe machine to act automatically to transfer the advanced blanks upon areciprocating feed table 5 which in turn serves to deliver the blanks tothe forming mandrel 3 of the machine to cause the blanks to be formedinto containers or cups. At predetermined times in the operation of thecup forming machine, the completed cups are automatically dischargedfrom the forming mandrel and are delivered lto a receiving chute 22forming a part of the stacking mechanism of the machine. As the cups aredelivered into the receiving chute 22 the cups are nested one within theother in stacked relation. In order that the stacked cups may be removedfrom the receiving chute in counted quantities or groups readilydiscernible by convenient indicating means the improved attachmentembodying the principles of this invention is adaptedto be secured tothe machine and operated thereby for the purpose of automaticallydelivering indicating spacers 47 at predetermined intervals in the stackof formed cups to separate predetermined counted quantities of the cups.

The counter and indicating spacer attachment is connected for operationfrom the machine by means of the connecting bar or rod 82 one end ofwhich is pivotally connected with the crank arm 18 forming a part of theblank transfer mechanism of the machine. The connecting bar 82 has thesecond end thereof connected with the apertured lower end of theattachment actuating lever 85. The pivotal swinging movement of theactuating lever 85 may be varied by connecting the actuating bar 82 withdifferent ones of the openings 84 provided in the lower end of thelever. The pivotal swinging of the upper end of the operating lever 85determines the advance of the main operating pawl 86 so that each time ablank is transferred from the machine magazine onto the machine blankfeed table 5 by the operation of the machine blank transfer mechanism,the attachment operating lever 85 is advanced from the full lineposition illustrated in Figure 3 into the full line position of Figure 4to cause the main operating pawl 86 to operate the .main counter ratchetwheel 80 to cause the same to be rotated a predetermined distance orone-twenty-flfth (1/25th) of a revolution in the present instance sincethe ratchet wheel 80 is provided with twenty-ve teeth.

If, at any time, during the operation of the counter attachment it isdesired to stop the operation thereof without stopping the operation ofthe cup forming machine, the manual control lever 87 is swung upwardlyfrom its normal position resting on the stop pin 88 to engage theshoulder 89 of the main control pawl 86 to swing said pawl upwardly outof coactin'g engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 80. Thedrive to the counter attachment is thereby disconnected until such timeas the control lever 87 is again Cir lowered to permit the pawl 86 tocoact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 80.

AEach time the operating lever 85 is actuated, the feed table 5 deliversa blank to the forming mandrel 3 and a completed cup is discharged fromthe forming mandrel and is deposited in the cup receiving chute 22 whilethe main pawl 86 is advanced from the full line position illustrated inFigure 3 to the full line position illustrated in Figure 4 to cause theratchet wheel 80 to be rotated one-twenty-fth (1/25th) of a revolutionthereby advancing the cam control roller 79 a step nearer the controlcam 75.

When twenty-five cups have been deposited in the chute 22, the controlroller 79 on the ratchet wheel 80 is brought into engagement with thecam thereby causing the cam arm 74 to be swung from the full lineposition illustrated in Figure 3 into the full line position illustratedin Figure 4 causing the auxiliary control pawl 77 to rotate theauxiliary ratchet wheel 72 one-tenth of a revolution, there being tenteeth on said ratchet wheel 72.

Rotation of the auxiliary ratchet wheel 72 causes rotation of thebeveled gear 70 which being in mesh with the beveled gear 69 causesrotation of the driving shaft 32 and the material feed reel 29 to causethe strip of material to be unwound from the reel 28 and advanced or fedforwardly with the assistance of the spring-controlled presser roll 30 apredetermined distance between the guide members 40 and 41 and betweenthe cutter blades 43 and 45. With the depositing of each 25 cups intothe receiving chute 22, the main ratchet Wheel is rotated one revolutionthereby causing the auxiliary ratchet wheel 72 to be rotated one-tenthof a revolution thereby causing the material strip to be intermittentlyadvanced between the guide members 40 and 41 and between the cutterblades until the auxiliary ratchet Wheel 72 has been rotated a fullrevolution after 250 cups have been deposited in the receiving chute.With the gradual rotation of the material feed reel 29 the cuttercontrol roller 50 is gradually advanced toward the fulcrumed cuttercontrol arm 48 and the recess 31 provided in the outer periphery of thefeed reel 29 is advanced into a position adjacent the presser roller 30so that the feeding action of the material 28 is temporarilydiscontinued during the cutting of an indicating spacer from the stripof material. When the control roller 50 engages one end of the fulcrumedarm 48, said arm is pivotally actuated to cause the pivoted cutter blade45 to be moved toward the stationary blade 43 thereby cutting throughthe strip of material to cut off a portion of the advanced end of thematerial to form an indicating spacer 47.

With each partial rotation of the driving shaft 32, the gear 58 causes adrive to be transmitted to the meshing gears 59, 60 and 61 causing themutilated gear 62 to be partially rotated to cause rotation of the gear64 thereby causing the discharge roll or reel 5l to be gradually rotatedin a clockwise direction` looking at Figure 6, to gradually wind up thecontrol spring 68 which governs the operation of the discharge roller orreel 51.

The material feed mechanism is so timed that before the end of thematerial reaches the discharge roller 51 the presser roller 53 is inrolling contact with a portion of the periphery of the roller 51 andwhen the end of the material is ready to pass between the dischargeroller 51 and the presser roller 53 the advanced end 0f the 1'6- cess orpocket 52` in the outer periphery of the roller 51 reaches a positionvopposite the presser roller 53 thereby permitting the advancing materialto be advanced between the discharge roller 51 and the roller 53 withsaid roller 51 being rotated in a direction opposite to the direction oftravel of the material. c

At the time that the movable cutter blade 45 is actuated to cut acrossthe strip of material to cut an indicating spacer therefrom, the end ofthe recess 52 passes the presser roller 53 permitting the peripheralsurface of the discharge roller 51 to engage the underside of theindicating spacer just as the toothless or mutilated segment 63 of thegear 62 is brought into register with the discharge roller gear 64thereby temporarily releasing the meshing engagement of the teeth of thegear 62 with the teeth of the gear 64 to not only discontinue rotationof the gear 64 but also to cause release of the discharge roller 51permitting the wound up control spring 68 to rapidly rotate thedischarge roller 51 in a counterclockwise direction so that the cut offindicating spacer which is frictionally gripped between the outerperiphery of the discharge roller 51 and the presser roller 53 isadvanced toward the open end of the cup receiving chute 22 and isdischarged from the indicating spacer transfer mechanism and isdeposited in the 250th cup or in the last of a predetermined or countednumber of cups delivered from the cup forming mandrel into the receivingchute.l With the projection of an indicating spacer 47 into apredetermined one of the cups, the cup forming machine continues todeposit cups into the chute so that a plurality of additional cups arenested or stacked in the cup containing the indicating spacer to holdthe inner end of the spacer frictionally gripped in position While theouter end of the indicating spacer projects from the stack of nestedcups to clearly indicate a counted group or quantity of the nested cups.

With the depositing of an indicating spacer in a predetermined cup inthe stack of cups Within the chute 22, the mutilated section of the gear62 passes the gear 64 permitting the teeth of said gear 62 to again meshwith the teeth of the gear 64 to cause the discharge roller 51 to againbe rotated in a 4clockwise direction to cause rewinding of the controlspring 68 preparatory to the discharge of the next indicating spacerafter another counted group of 250 cups is deposited in the stackingchute 22.

In the present showing of the invention, the counter mechanism isprovided with ratchet Wheels 80 and 72 the tooth ratio of which is suchthat 250 cups are adapted to be counted before an indicating spacer iscut off from a strip of material and deposited in the 250th cup stackedin the machine cup receiving chute 22. It will of course be understoodthat ratchet wheels having different tooth ratios may be used in thecounter mechanism to permit the attachment to be used for the purpose ofcounting off different quantities of stacked cups.

The improved counter attachment in the present instance is associatedwith a cup forming machine, but it will of course be understood that theimproved attachment may be readily adapted for use in connection withmachines making various articles which are required to be counted off inpredetermined numbers or groups. In the present case, the improvedcounter attachment is mounted to be operated in synchronized relationWith the blank feed and cup forming mechanism of a cup forming machineand is adapted to automatically advance a material, cut indicatingspacers therefrom, and at predetermined times in the discharge of cupsfrom the machine, deliver the indicating spacers at spaced intervals inthe stack of discharged cups to designate predetermined counted groupsor quantities of the cups.

It will, of course, be understood that many changes may be made andnumerous details of construction may be varied through a wide rangewithout departing from the'principles of this invention, and it istherefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwisethan necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a counter mechanism. means connected foroperation from the machine adapted to actuate the counter mechanism eachtime a container is delivered by the machine into said chute, anindicating spacer forming means connected to be operated from thecounter mechanism, an indicating spacer delivering means connected to bewound up by the counter mechanism, and control means operable by thecounter mechanism for releasing the delivery means at a predeterminedtime allowing the same to unwind and engage an indicating spacer anddeliver the same into one of a counted number of containers in saidchute to indicate a counted quantity of the containers.

2. The combination with a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a counter mechanism, adjustable drivingmeans connected to be operated from the machine for actuating thecounter mechanism, a manually operable control connected with thecounter mechanism for stopping the operation thereof when desired,amaterial feed device actuated by the counter mechanism for advancing astrip of material, a cutter device, means operable by the material feeddevice for operating the cutter device at a predetermined time to cut anindicating spacer from the advanced material, an indicating spacertransfer device, a control spring therein adapted to be Wound by therotation of the transfer device from the counter mechanism, and acontrol device operable from the counter mechanism for releasing thetransfer device at a predetermined time to permit unwinding of thespring and operation of the transfer device to cause the same to engagean indicating spacer and deliver the same into the last one of a countednumber of containers in the receiving chute to mark oi a vcountedquantity of the containers.

3. The combination With a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a main pawl and ratchet counter unit,means for operating the same from the machine cach time a container isdelivered into the receiving chute, an auxiliary pawl and ratchetcounter unit, control means operable at predetermined times by the mainpawl and ratchet counter unit to cause operation of the auxiliary oawland ratchet counter unit, a material feed device operated by theauxiliary counter unit, a cutter device operable by the feed device at apredetermined time to cut an indicating spacer from the advancedmaterial, a spring controlled transfer device, a gear unit connected tobe driven from the auxiliary counter unit to cause the 'connectingmember, a main counter transfer device to be operated to wind up thecontrol spring thereof, and a release member forming a part of the gearunit for releasing the transfer device at a predetermined time to causethe same to engage an indicating spaced and deliver the same into one ofthe containers in said chute to mark off a counted number of containers.

4. The combination with -a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a main pawl and ratchet counter unit, alever for operating the same, a connecting rod adjustably attached tosaid operating lever and operable from the machine, an auxilary pawl andratchet counter unit, control means operable at predetermined times bythe main counter unit to cause operation of the auxiliary counter unit,a material feed mechanism operated by the auxiliary counter unit foradvancing a strip of material, a cutter mechanism, means operable by thematerial feed mechanism to actuate the cutting mechanism at apredetermined time to cause an indicating spacer to be cut from theadvanced strip of material, a spring controlled transfer device, meansoperated from the auxiliary counter unit for winding the transfer deviceand means coacting with the transfer device for releasing the same at apredetermined time to cause the transfer device to engage an indicatingspacer and then deliver the same into the last one of a counted numberof containers in said receiving chute.

5. The combination with a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a main pawl and ratchet countermechanism, a lever for actuating the same, a connecting member operablefrom the machine and connected to operate the operating lever, a cammember, means on said main counter mechanism for actuating the cammember at predetermined times, an auxiliary pawl and ratchet countermechanism operable by the cam member, a feed mechanism connected to bedriven by the auxiliary counter mechanism to cause a strip of materialto be advanced, a cutting mechanism, means operable by the feedmechanism to cause operation of the cutting mechanism at a predeterminedtime to cut an indicating spacer from the advanced strip of material, aspring controlled transfer mechanism,l means operable from the auxiliarycounter mechanism for rotating the transfer mechanism to causetensioning of the control spring and a release device for releasing thetransfer mechanism at a predetermined time to cause the spring to rotatethe transfer mechanism in an opposite direction to engage the indicatingspacer and deliver the same into a container in said chute to mark oil'a counted number of containers.

6. The combination with a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a connecting member operated from themachine, an actuating lever operable by said ratchet wheel, a springcontrolled main pawl on said actuated lever coacting with the maincounter ratchet Wheel to rotate the same a predetermined distance eachtime a container is delivered to the receiving chute, a pivoted cammember, a roller on said main counter ratchet wheel for actuating thecam member at predetermined times, an auxiliary counter ratchet Wheel,an auxiliary pawl supported on said cam member for rotating theauxiliary counter ratchet wheel a predetermechanism operable from theauxiliary counter ratchet Wheel to advance a strip of material, a cuttermechanism, control means operable by the feed mechanism for causing thecutter mechanism to cut an indicating spacer from the advanced strip ofmaterial at a predetermined time, a rotatable transfer mechanism, a geartrain operable from the auxiliary counter ratchet wheel for rotating thetransfer mechanism when the feed mechanism is operated, a control springin the transfer mechanism adapted to be tensioned when the transfermechanism is rotated by the gear train, and a mutilated gear memberforming a part of the gear train for releasing the transfer mechanism ata predetermined time to cause the tensioned spring to rotate thetransfer mechanism in an opposite direction to cause the same to engagethe cut indicating spacer and then deliver the same into a selected oneof a counted number of containers in the receiving chute to mark off agroup of counted containers.

7. The combination with a container receiving chute, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a transfer mechanism, a control springtherein, means for delivering an indicating spacer to the transfermechanism, and mechanisms operable from the machine for first winding upthe spring and then automatically releasing the spring at apredetermined time to cause the transfer mechanism to engage theindicating spacer and deliver the same into a selected one of thecontainers in the receiving chute to mark off a counted group ofcontainers.

8. The combination with a container receiver, of a machine fordelivering containers thereto, a rotatable transfer mechanism, means forfeeding an indicating spacer thereto, a control spring in said transfermechanism, a counter mechanism operable from the machine connected torotate the transfer mechanism to cause winding of the spring therein,and a release device operable from the counter mechanism to release thespring at a predetermined time to cause the transfer mechanism to beoperated by the spring to engage the indicating spacer and deliver thesame into a selected container in the receiver to mark off a countednumber of containers.

9. The combination with a container forming;

machine and the stacking mechanism thereof, of mechanism for forming anddelivering indicating spacers at spaced intervals between the containersdeposited in the stacking mechanism, mutilated gear means forcontrolling the operation of said forming and delivering mechanism, agear mechanism for operating said means, a counter unit for actuatingthe gear mechanism, and means connecting said counter unit for operationfrom the machine in timed relation with the discharge of containers fromthe machine into the stacking mechanism.

10. 'Ihe combination with an article holder, of an indicating spacerdelivery mechanism, means for automatically setting the deliverymechanism, and a mutilated member forming a part of said means forautomatically releasing the delivery mechanism at a predetermined timeto permit the same to engage and then deliver indicating spacers atspaced intervals between the articles in the holder to mark offpredetermined quantities of the articles.

11. The combination with an article receiver, of a spring controlledtransfer mechanism, means for delivering an indicating spacer to thetransfer mechanism, a gear mechanism for setting the transfer mechanism,and a mutilated gear forming a part of said gear mechanism adapted tocause release of the transfer mechanism at a predetermined time to causethe transfer mechanism to engage the indicating spacer and deliver thesame between the articles in said receiver to mark off predeterminedquantities of the articles.

12. The combination with an article receiver, of a rotatably mountedtransfer device, a spring for controlling the operation thereof,mechanism for rotating the transfer device in one direction to causeWinding of said spring, said mechanism including a mutilated releasemeans, a feed means for delivering an indicating spacer to the transferdevice, and a counter mechanism connected to operate the feed means andthe mechanism for operating the transfer device to cause the mutilatedrelease means to release the transfer device at a predetermined time toallow the wound spring to rotate the transfer device in an oppositedirection to cause the same to grip an indicating spacer and deliver thesame. into one of the articles in the receiver to mark olf apredetermined quantity of the articles.

13. A counter and indicating spacer attachment comprising a materialfeed mechanism, driving means for operating the same to cause a materialto be advanced, a cutter device, a control on said feed mechanism forcausing operation of the cutter device at a predetermined time to cut anindicating spacer from the advanced material, a spring controlledtransfer mechanism for receiving the indicating spacer, and a gear trainoperated by the-driving means for setting the spring controlledtransfer` mechanism, said gear train including a mutilated gear adaptedat a predetermined time to cause release of the transfer mechanism anddischarge of the indicating spacer thereby.

14. A counter and indicating spacer attachment comprising a materialfeed mechanism, driving means for actuating the same to cause a materialto be advanced', a cutter device, a-control carried by the feedmechanism for causing operation of the cutting device at a predeterminedtime to cause an indicating spacer to be cut from the advanced material,a spring controlled rotatably mounted transfer mechanism for receivingthe indicating spacer, a spring controlled roller means coacting withthe transfer mechanism for holding the indicating spacer engaged withthe transfer mechanism, and a gear train operated by the driving meansfor winding the transfer mechanism, said gear train including amutilated control gear adapted at a predetermined time to cause releaseof the indicating mechanism and operation thereof to cause theindicating spacer to be discharged.

15. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment of the classdescribed, the combination with a cutting mechanism, of an indicatingspacer transfer mechanism, a rotatable feed member, a pin carriedthereby for governing the operation of the counter mechanism to cause anindicating spacer to be cut from a piece of material, means for settingthe transfer mechanism and including a release device adapted at apredetermined time to cause the transfer mechanism t0 engage theindicating spacer and discharge the same, an auxiliary pawl and ratchetmechanism for driving the rotatable feed member and vsaid means, a cammechanism for actuating the auxiliary pawl and ratchet mechanism, a mainpawl and ratchet mechanism, a roller thereon adapted at predeterminedtimes to cause operation of the cam member, and a driving device foroperating the main pawl and ratchet mechanism.

16. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment of the classdescribed, the combination with a transfer mechanism, of means forforming and delivering an indicating spacer to the transfer mechanism tobe engaged and discharged thereby, and a counter unit for operating thetransfer mechanism and said means, said counter unit comprising anauxiliary ratchet wheel, a pivoted cam member, a pawl carried therebyfor actuating the auxiliary ratchet Wheel, a main ratchet Wheel, aroller carried thereby for actuating the cam member at predeterminedtimes, a lever member, means for actuating the same, and a main pawlcarried .by the lever member for causing rotation of the main ratchetWheel.

17. The combination with an article making and stacking mechanism, of adischarge device, means for feeding indicating spacers thereto, gearmeans for Winding the discharge device, and a mutilated control gearforming a part of said gear means adapted to release the dischargedevice at predetermined times to cause the same to engage the indicatingspacers and discharge the same into the stacking mechanism to count offpredetermined quantities of the articles.

18. In a counter attachment of the class described, the combination withan indicating spacer transfer device, ofv a control spring therein,means for forming and delivering indicating spacers to the transferdevice, a gear onv said transfer device, a mutilated gear ooactingtherewith, and means for operating the mutilated gear to cause thetransfer device to be Wound up and at a predetermined time released tocause the transfer device to engage an indicating spacer and thendischarge the same.

19. In a counter mechanism of the class described, the combination witha transfer device, of a control member therein, means for forming anddelivering indicating spacers to the transfer device, a gear on saidtransfer device, a mutilated gear ooacting therewith for controlling theoperation of the transfer device, and a counter unit connected to governthe operation of the feed means and said mutilated gear.

20. A counter attachment comprising in combination an indicating spacertransfer device, a cutter mechanism, a material feed mechanism fordelivering material to the cutter mechanism and causing operation of thecutter mechanism at predetermined times to cut indicating spacers fromthe advanced material, a gear train for operating the transfer device,said gear train including a mutilated control gear for controlling therelease of the indicating spacer transfer device at predetermined timesto cause the same to engage indicating spacers and discharge the same, acounter unit for controlling the operation of the feed mechanism andsaid gear train, driving means for actuating the counter unit, andmanually operable means for disconnecting the counter unit fromoperation by the driving means.

21. A counter attachment comprising a transfer device, la presser rollerooacting therewith, a material feed reel, a presser roller ooactingtherewith, a cutter mechanism for receiving a material advanced by thefeed reel, a cutter operating device, a control member carried by thefeed reel for actuating the cutter operating device at predeterminedtimes to cause the cutter mechanism to cut indicating spacers from theadvanced material, a gear train for setting the transfer device, saidgear train including a mutilated gear for causing release of thetransfer device at predetermined times to cause the same to engage theindicating spacers to discharge the same, and a counter unit connectedto drive the feed reel and said gear train.

22. In a counter attachment of the class described, the combination withan indicating spacer discharge device, of means for forming and feedingindicating spacers to the discharge device, and a mutilated gear countermechanism connected to intermittently cause operation of the dischargedevice.

23. A counter attachment comprising an indicating spacer dischargedevice, means for forming and feeding indicating spacers to thedischarge device, a gear train for operating the discharge device, saidgear train including a mutilated control gear for causing release of thedischarge device at predetermined times to cause the same to engageindicating spacers and discharge the same, a counter unit forsimultaneously driving the feed means and the gear train, and means forgoverning the operation of the counter unit.

24. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment, a discharge device, agear train for operating the same, a multilated gear forming a part ofsaid gear train for releasing the discharge device at predeterminedtimes to cause the same to engage and discharge indicating spacers,means for forming and delivering indicating spacers to the dischargedevice, a plurality of mechanisms connected to drive the feed means andsaid gear train, a control device operable by one of the mechanisms tocause actuation of the other of said mechanisms, driving means connectedto cause actuation of one of said mechanisms, and a manual control fordiscontinuing the drive from said driving means to said last mentionedmechanism.

25. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment, the combination withan indicating spacer discharge device, means for forming and deliveringindicating spacers to the discharge device, to be discharged thereby,and a counter unit for operating the discharge device and said means,said counter unit comprising a pair of pawl and ratchet wheelmechanisms, and a pivoted cam control means operable by one of said pawland ratchet Wheel mechanisms at predetermined times to causeintermittent operation of the other of said paWl and ratchet Wheelmechanisms.

26. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment, the combination withan indicating spacer discharge device, of means for deliveringindicating spacers into the field of operation of said discharge device,a control mechanism for causing the discharge device to be operated lina direction opposite to the direction of feed of said indicating spacerto cause setting of the discharge device, said control mechanismincluding a release means for releasing the discharge device atpredetermined times to cause the same to move in the direction of feedof said indicating spacers to engage the indicating spacers and thendischarge the saine, and a counter connected to drive and govern theoperation of said feed means and said discharge device.

27. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment, the combination withmeans for forming and discharging indicating spacers one at a time fromthe attachment, and a counter for governing the operation of said means,said counter compivoted cam, a pawl thereon for operating the ratchetmember, a second ratchet member, a roller thereon for operating the camat predetermined times and means for actuating said second ratchetmember.

28. In a counter and indicating spacer attachment, the combination witha rotatable indicating spacer discharge means, of mechanisms for formingand delivering indicating spacers to the dis-

